Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s recent bouts are currently affecting the entire arsenal.
That is the view of Jermaine Jenas, the former Tottenham midfielder turned expert.
Gunners’ captain Aubameyang has only scored four goals this season and is looking to restore the performances he showed last season when he helped Arsenal win the FA Cup.
The 31-year-old scored a whopping 29 goals throughout last season and this time is an opportunity to repeat that record.
His on-goal waste and underperformance worried Arsenal as he faced Spurs in the North London derby on Sunday.
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Spurs reach the top of the Premier League, while Arsenal are already eight points behind and have suffered five defeats from their first ten league games.
Jenas said on BBC 5Lives Friday Football Social: “There is no doubt that Aubameyang is not the same player right now.
“Your best player is not playing to the best of his ability. It will always affect your team.
“We saw it at Spurs when Harry Kane’s form goes down, then the team’s form goes down.
“I think without realizing it, you are so addicted [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang in terms of what he brings to the table.
“Now that the gates are dry, who’s going to step on the plate?
“”[Nicolas] Pepe didn’t make it. [Alexandre] Lacazette is on and off the team.
“They haven’t had a midfielder since they let Aaron Ramsey go.
“That puts more pressure on Aubameyang. I think the teams know how to play against them.
“You know at some point against Arsenal and even the smaller teams that if you stay there they will almost self-destruct and you will get a chance.”
Still, Jenas says that if there is a game where the dynamics can suddenly change after a good result, then it’s an opportunity like on Sunday.
He added: “For Mikel Arteta to handle all of this, there is no better game than this.
“It’s the old cliché of game boards going out the window, but they really do.
“If you get a result here, it could be the catalyst for you.”
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